SUNSET BEACH, N.C. – Paced by junior Drake McAlister's 1-over-par 72, the Anderson University men's golf team is in sixth place following opening-round action at the Myrtle Beach Invitational Monday.
The two-day event is being hosted by Lincoln Memorial at the par-71 6,709 yard, Lion's Paw course at Ocean Ridge Plantation.
The host Railsplitters (279) lead the tournament by 11 strokes over both Lenoir-Rhyne (290) and Barton (290), with North Greenville sitting four strokes further back. Limestone (295) is fifth and sits seven shots in front of Anderson (302). Virginia Union holds the seventh spot after posting a 303, while Belmont Abbey and Cape Fear Community College are tied for eighth heading into Tuesday's final round after notching 304s on the day.
Emmanuel (305), Tusculum (306), Virginia-Wise (313), Mount Olive (313), Chowan State (339) and Fayetteville State (351) rounded out the 15-team field.
Lincoln Memorial's Dan Bradbury leads the individual medalist chase by one stroke after firing a 3-under-par 68. Barton's Bryson Boyette and LMU's Andrew Briggs share second place after each carded 2-under-par 69s. Eight additional golfers are within three shots of Bradbury.
McAlister carded three birdies en route to a 1-over-par 72 and is in a five-way tie for 12th, with junior Jake Miller recording a pair of birdies and posting a 3-over-par 74. The Anderson, S.C., native sits in a six-way tie for 20th. Sophomore Cal Brock fired a 6-over-par 77 and is tied for 41st, with classmate Colt Martin (79) tied for 51st place. Senior Grayson Bell posted a 9-over-par 80 and is tied for 57th place.
Tuesday's final round is slated to get underway at 8:30 a.m.